"I don't need to win 10 races a year" but Ilan van Wilder wants to step up to Remco Evenepoel's position at Quick-Step

Soudal - Quick-Step spent years trying to build a climber's team in order to support Remco Evenepoel and also keep him on board, providing him with the chance of fighting with the likes of UAE and Visma in the Grand Tours collectively. The Belgian broke his contract and will leave at the end of 2025 leaving an empty gap to fill, and a few others such as Ilan van Wilder are looking to take the opportunity.

The two have often been teammates throughout the past few years and for a long time van Wilder was Evenepoel's right-hand man in the difficult races. That has largely changed this year with different schedules for both, but they have teamed up once again at the Tour of Britain where van Wilder's work at The Tumble proved to be key for Evenepoel's sprint victory.

The two can still achieve a lot together in this final month of racing, but from next year onwards, van Wilder is looking to be a leader. "You have to have the legs for that, you know. That's not obvious," van Wilder told Sporza. "I certainly won't declare myself the leader in every race, but I will learn to take that responsibility no matter what."

In 2023 he really showed his level with victories at the Deutschland Tour and the star-packed Tre Valli Varesine, but since he has ridden himself into a more consistent GC rider role, although without big flashy results. In 2024 he was fourth at the UAE Tour and Tour de Romandie, whilst this year he has Top10 results at the Volta ao Algarve, Paris-Nice, Itzulia Basque Country and Tour de Suisse.

The team has already prepared him to be a leader of his own, but without the presence of Evenepoel next year, there will be more responsibility too. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'm not pushing myself to the level of Remco or those other top riders. For me, that's on a lower level. But I still have room for improvement."

"I don't need to win 10 races a year, but if I can raise my hand next year or be very consistent in major races, I'll be very happy," he admits.